Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates selected specialty and province-wide health care services across BC, working with the five geographic health authorities to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of people living in BC. PHSA embodies values that reflect a commitment to excellence.

Under the direction of the Medical Physics Lead (Provincial Medical Imaging Office, PMIO), The Medical Physicist is accountable for on-going quality control, dose optimization, equipment selection, clinical education and clinical research support.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Collaborates with Radiologists, Nuclear Medicine Physicians, Medical Physicists, other clinical professionals, and technical staff on the introduction of new technologies into the program, including development of policies and procedures, imaging protocols, quality control program, clinical trials, dose optimization and protocol review.
• Provides expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a coordinated and integrated quality assurance program and quality improvement agenda. Monitors quality information and prepares confidential analytical reports and briefing documents.
• Participates in the training and evaluation of Medical Physics Residents according to national and international standards.
• Collaborates and supports radiation safety officers, modality supervisors and hospital leadership with radiation safety as an expert advisor.
• Assesses and works with key partners to ensure quality control and radiation safety program meet provincial accreditation and provincial/federal regulations, including but limited: Health Canada Safety Codes, the Diagnostic Accreditation Program of BC Standards (DAP Standards), Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Work Safe BC.
• Responsible for teaching aspects of nuclear medicine, x-ray physics and radiation protection to hospital staff.
• Performs shielding calculations according to national and international standards, inspects shielding during construction of new radiological and nuclear medicine rooms.
• Assesses equipment performance to ensure optimal diagnostic and/or functional information is obtained, within their specialization or other equipment with advanced training.
• Supports the development and maintenance of online education modules within their specialization.
• Identifying and addressing image artifacts through key partnerships and evaluating and optimizing radiation and image quality for radiological or nuclear medicine systems.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Key Accountabilities – Diagnostic Imaging

• Participates in the evaluation of diagnostic reference levels for radiology exams.
• Provides patient dose assessments from radiological procedures upon request.
• May be required to provide relief to PMIO medical physicists and mammography services, with proper qualifications.

Key Accountabilities – Nuclear Medicine

• Collaborates with key partners in nuclear medicine to maintain and improve the quality control program for SPECT/PET imaging systems and ancillary devices used in nuclear medicine, and periodically review SPECT/PET imaging protocols.

• Collaborates with key partners with the investigation of nuclear medicine spills upon request.

• Participates in patient dosimetry and theranostics.

• Routine monitoring of radiation detection equipment (e.g. well counters, and contamination meters); participates in annual radiation safety site audits as needed and review safe work procedures related to nuclear medicine.

Qualifications:

Membership with the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in Diagnostic/Radiological Physics, Nuclear Medicine, or an equivalent body as recognized by the Health Authority is required at this level. PhD or Master’s degree in Medical Physics, or a related Biomedical discipline and a minimum of 2 years clinical experience is required. Must obtain required certification within two (2) years of entering this level.

Valid BC Driver’s License as local area travel requires the use of a personal vehicle. A separate CCPM certification is required if providing Mammography services.

Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative and effective working relationships that promote cooperative goal achievement and contribute to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. Demonstrated ability to apply superior communication skills to collaborate and influence internal and external partners, providing advice, guidance and education, and ensuring compliance with standards, criteria and regulations. Demonstrated ability to maintain current knowledge of new developments, trends and research in the medical applications of physics and recommends/implements best practices accordingly. Demonstrated ability to facilitate, collaborate and negotiate for effective conduct of clinical, practice and systems research, and works with colleagues and co-workers to achieve excellence in clinical, practice, and systems research. Demonstrated ability to skillfully develop meaningful indicators of quality and provides constructive reports based on the results of indicator monitoring. Demonstrated ability to use a variety of software applications at an advanced level to prepare reports, briefing materials and other documents and to conduct statistical analysis. Demonstrated ability to provide guidance to site-specific RSOs, and foster a respectful, motivating and empowering environment in which individual competencies can thrive. Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.